*Spoiler alert*

There were numerous aspects of this book that I truly disliked. The main character makes the decision to take a stand against the "F4," a clique of popular boys. She narrowly escapes being gang-raped by 3 out of the 4 boys, until one of them intervenes to rescue her. Strangely, she then develops a crush on this boy. However, he later tells her that if she "was going to be such a pest about it" he "wouldn't have intervened." How nice of him! Even after hearing this, she still likes him.

The author also inserts herself into the story quite frequently, and her interruptions are extremely annoying. She describes herself as not very talented and "old." Her lack of self-confidence is very evident in these interjections, and one has to wonder what the point is of including so much personal information. In conclusion, this book was truly horrible.

It failed to engage me with its unlikable characters and the author's intrusive writing style. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

This was the story that truly got me hooked on manga.

By some random stroke of luck, I happened to stumble across the J-drama when it was first released. I watched the entire thing, and let me tell you, the J-drama is far superior to the older version. So, if you watched that and didn't like it, don't worry.

After the first season of the J-drama, I was so impatient that I looked up the anime. It's monstrously long, but I guess it was worth it. I've been watching anime on TV since I was a kid, so the transition was easy.

Then, I found out there was a manga, and that's when my current obsession with manga began.

The story is really good. I like to think of it as one of the classic shoujos, especially when compared to a lot of the overhyped dramas that are coming out today. The drama in Hana Yori Dango was a bit angsty, being a high school drama and all, but I'd argue that it wasn't overly so. Or maybe there's worse out there, it's up to you to decide.

The heroine faces quite a few problems, but there's a logic to them, so her feelings make sense. Although sometimes, you just want her and Tsukasa to get over themselves. The art might not be my favorite, but the story more than makes up for it. And to be fair, I've seen far worse art out there.

Anyway, no matter which medium you choose to experience the story, it'll be a bit of a trek. I would highly recommend the manga because it's always better, and the anime and dramas usually change things. It's long, but a lot happens, so it's definitely worth it. And if you really get into it, it'll feel a lot shorter than it actually is. When you're close to the end, you'll wonder where all the time went.

Every shoujo aficionado should, in some way or another, acquaint themselves with this story because it's one of the good ones.

First of all, this is my very first foray into the world of manga or comic books in general. I have to admit that it wasn't as perplexing as I initially thought it would be.

I chose this particular one because a few years ago, I happened to come across the Korean series that it inspired. To be honest, I didn't have an overwhelming love for it. I thought it was just okay. However, recently, after rewatching it, I became aware of how problematically it dealt with some of the social issues it brought up, especially the issue of bullying.

But I never expected that the original source material, the manga or comic book, would be as bad as it turned out to be. And strangely enough, knowing the ending actually makes the whole experience even worse.

Trigger warning: rape, bullying.

Wow...where do I even begin?

It has been an extremely long time since I have come across a series as repulsive and disturbing as this one. This is supposed to be a shojo series, yet I struggle to find any semblance of romance within it. The main female protagonist, Tsukushi, though strong-willed and determined, is constantly (at least in the initial few volumes) brutally bullied and abused by the students of the high school and the F4 boys. The characters are all like cardboard cutouts, lacking development, depth, or personality. The story also suffers from a complete lack of logic in both the characters and the events that unfold.

Starting with the parents, they are among the poorest characters in this regard. While not the worst parents I've seen in manga, they are certainly among the most selfish and ignorant. It seems that all they care about is money and status. Literally, that's all they ever talk about. Oh, but every now and then, they'll fuss over their daughter, but only because she happens to associate with some rich jerks, meaning that in their eyes, there might be a possibility of their daughter marrying into wealth. -_-

The amount of bullying and the extremes it reaches are both difficult to stomach and cruel. At one point, Tsukushi gets tied to the end of a car and dragged behind it, nearly raped, and beaten up. Not to mention, she is constantly verbally bullied. And all of this is because she stood up against the most popular asshole in the school, and as a result, everyone hates her. I don't care if these people are rich, selfish, or spoiled, but I highly doubt there is a school full of students who would all gang up against one girl and act like complete psychotic jerks without any moral conscience.

Remember how I mentioned the lack of logic? Well, there is an abundance of it in this story. For example, the typical bitchy girl character drugs Tsukushi, forces a man to take a suggestive picture with her, and exposes it to everyone at the high school, all in an attempt to catch Tsukasa's (the main love interest) attention. For some inexplicable reason, many chapters later, Tsukushi considers her to be her friend. WHY? Because the author decides it should be so, that's why! Any normal person with an ounce of sense would stay far away from this crazy, manipulative bitch, or perhaps file a restraining order, report her to the police, or do anything other than consider her a "friend."

How on earth does Tsukushi manage to get into this prestigious school with only good grades and no scholarship? She claims that her parents work very hard to pay for her schooling, but I call bullshit. Are you telling me that a normal middle-class family could somehow afford to send their daughter to this school where all the students clearly come from extremely wealthy and well-known families? I don't believe it for a second.

The "romance" is by far the weakest and most sickening aspect. In volume 1, the guy who is clearly going to be her love interest (aka Tsukasa) hires a gang of guys to rape her just because she stood up to him. Are you kidding me? How the hell is this supposed to make me a) like him as a character or b) support their relationship later on? This is truly disturbing. In no way is this okay. And this is just the beginning; it gets even worse.

Later on, Tsukasa gets angry because he hears that she likes someone else. So, how does he react? He randomly beats people up (punching them in the face until they bleed and even pushing someone down the stairs) and even forces himself on her. Call it what you will, but chasing after someone and forcing yourself on them after they say no is rape (in this case, attempted rape). However, she then starts crying, so he stops and tells her, "Stop crying, I won't do anything. Don't cry." FUCK YOU, YOU SICK ASSHOLE. FUCK YOU. If this didn't already make me disgusted with him, he acts as if nothing happened, and she doesn't do anything about it (again, such as calling the police on his sorry ass, switching schools, or reporting this to her parents).

Supposedly, he does get "better" later on, which is implied because of her influence (ugh, this cliche makes me want to gag. One person can't change someone like that), but it still doesn't stop him from punching any guy who happens to like her, get near her, or even when she is having an innocent get-together with her elementary school friends (which involves trashing the place, scaring everyone off, and yelling at her). Oh, and apparently, he also once beat up a student so badly that he caused damage to his intestines. What does the main character see in this psycho? HE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO REDEEMING QUALITIES!

Everything this guy does strongly suggests abuse. This relationship is not sexy; it's creepy and disturbing. Hiring people to rape someone is not okay. Forcing yourself on someone is not okay. Having parents who are completely ignorant and only care about their status and financial situation at the expense of their daughter is neither okay nor funny. Telling yourself it's "your fault" for "hurting" this sick asshole after all the crap he did is not okay. And forgiving a violent person's actions because they happen to sometimes be "gentle" and have some good qualities is not okay.

The plot is nonsensical even by shojo standards, the characters are all terrible and one-dimensional, it's cliche after cliche, the humor is nonexistent, and the "romance" is incredibly weak and disturbing.

FUCK THE SHITTY PARENTS, TSUKASA, AND THIS PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A "ROMANCE."

I have really enjoyed rereading Hana Yori Dango. I love the characters and the love story.

Although 12 years after the first time I read it, there are some things that are a bit ridiculous and absurd, and others that I don't agree with. In general, I think the story gets a little long.

But there are also moments that still move me. It is a manga that is really worth reading.

By the way, I added the first one, but what I have (re)read is the entire collection of 36 volumes.

This manga has a unique charm that makes me keep coming back to it. The characters are well-developed and their relationships are complex and engaging.

The love story between Tsukushi and Domyouji is both sweet and challenging, and it makes me root for them all the way.

Even though there are some flaws in the story, it doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment. Hana Yori Dango is a classic manga that will always have a special place in my heart.

Okay, I know this might seem petty, but I truly cannot get past Tsukasa's hair in this. Just why?!?! I really preferred the way he was drawn in the anime version. Thank goodness they didn't give him dreads as they were originally considering. Anyways, the sole reason I gave this a three-star rating is that I watched the anime adaptation and the Korean drama of this story prior to reading the Manga. And they are extremely similar. I enjoyed uncovering the slight differences between the two. After watching the anime, I craved more, so I decided to read the Manga.

Just as I was disgusted and repulsed by how Tsukasa refused to apologize for attempting to rape Tsukushi in the anime, it was no different when reading the manga. What the f***?!?! That is the one thing I cannot and will never forgive in this story. It is completely and utterly unforgivable. Tsukasa had the potential to be a great and funny character, if only they hadn't chosen to make him an abusive rapist. Seriously, how many times did this character slap and hit women??? He nearly knocked Tsukushi out before raping her and just narrowly missed her by punching the wall. He could have sent her to the hospital with that punch! My God...

I still like the anime much more than the Manga, but it was definitely worthwhile to read this manga just to observe the little differences in the scenes between the two.

DNF'd

This art style is truly atrocious. It is so bad that it unfortunately has a significant impact on my perception of the manga. For me, the art style is one of the most crucial elements that can make or break a manga. When the art is not up to par, it can really detract from the overall experience. It's like trying to enjoy a delicious meal that is presented in an unappetizing way. No matter how good the story might be, the bad art style just ruins it for me. I really hope that in the future, manga artists will pay more attention to creating visually appealing art that can enhance the story and engage the readers. :(

I was initially inclined to rate this a 4 out of 5 stars. However, upon further reflection, I realized that it was more likely because I have a soft spot for "Meteor Garden," which is based on this manga.

I have also watched the beginning episodes of "Boys Over Flowers." While it is closer to the manga than "Meteor Garden," it still doesn't match as closely as some other series do with their corresponding shows.

Nevertheless, I found great enjoyment in comparing the show with the book. I truly liked the book. It was not only fun and entertaining but also had excellent character development.

In fact, I was so engaged that I would definitely continue reading the series. I'm eager to see how the story progresses and how the characters evolve further.

Overall, despite the differences between the adaptations, the original manga holds its own charm and has left me looking forward to more.

F4!

I have an intense love for the Boys over Flowers shows. This passion led me to begin with the original. Right from the start, this first volume manages to captivate your attention. It is truly enjoyable to compare it with what I witnessed on the shows.

However, there is a content warning that needs to be mentioned. As one of her punishments, there is an attempt at sexual assault (

I seem to have forgotten just how bad Domyouji can be.

He is often portrayed as a rather overbearing and arrogant character. His actions and words can sometimes be quite hurtful to those around him.

He has a tendency to impose his will on others without considering their feelings. His hot temper and impulsive nature can lead to many misunderstandings and conflicts.

However, as the story progresses, we also get to see some of his redeeming qualities. But initially, it's easy to be taken aback by his brash and unrefined behavior.

It's as if we need to constantly remind ourselves of just how bad he can be in order to fully understand the complexity of his character.

MY OPINION: ***

Bonus Summer Reading Challenge #16: A book that was made into a TV show

I watched the K-drama version of this manga first, at the behest of my sister who is currently obsessed with everything Korean. I don't remember the names clearly. Anyways, I really enjoyed reading this manga. Since it's only volume one, it was delightfully short, sweet, and to the point. There were some differences between the book and the TV show version I watched, but that's quite expected. After all, this is the original, so I can't find fault with it. I had a great time figuring out who was who based on what I knew from watching the show beforehand. The characters were the same as in the show, and I loved reading the parts that I recognized from it. I'm interested in continuing the series. Although I don't focus much on art, I have to admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of the art style in this book. However, I think it's just because I wasn't used to it as it was different from the mangas I've been reading. I would highly recommend this book to readers who are looking for a fun and short manga to enjoy.

Main Character: Makiko

Sidekick(s): Tsukushi, etc

Villain(s): Tsukusa, etc

Realistic Fiction Elements: This book is very real to life.

Anyone else here after falling in love with Meteor Garden 2018?